Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Frankfort48! We had a great turnout, and the filmmakers created some truly exceptional short films! Scroll down to watch the top three films!
Frankfort48 Film Contest
June 14-16, 2024
THURSDAY, June 13 @ 7:30pm: University of Michigan's Film, Television, and Media's course 423 "Practicum for the Screenwriter", will premiere a FREE screening of their 2 film shorts followed by a Q & A with the UM student filmmakers.
FRIDAY, June 14 @ 9am: Kickoff at The Garden. Participants will be given a (1) line from a movie, (2) prop, and (3) location to creatively incorporate in their film.
SUNDAY, June 16 @ 8:59am: All submissions are due
SCREENING AND AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS - Gather at The Garden to screen all the created shorts and award winners! Doors open at 7:30pm and films shown starting at 8:00pm.
About Frankfort48 film contest
To participate in the annual Frankfort48 Film Contest, aspiring filmmakers are asked to create a 3-to-5 minute film celebrating the beauty and unique character of northern Michigan, using three specific storyline components, which are revealed to the filmmakers at the start of the contest. Participating filmmakers then have 48 hours to conceive their ideas, scout locations, film, edit, and present their mini-masterpieces. Following the film showings, a panel of judges selects the top three films.
Frankfort48 Prizes
Cash and prizes are awarded to the top three Frankfort48 filmmakers:
First place - $1,000 and two VIP passes to the Frankfort Film Festival
Second place - $250
Third place - $100
Frankfort48 Entry
Please complete the form below or email KATIE JONES (KJones@gardentheater.org) to sign up to participate.
Maximum of 20 entrants.
Filmmakers must attend the Frankfort48 Kickoff Meeting at The Garden on Friday, June 16th at 9am.
Frankfort48 Entry Form
Frankfort48 Judges
abigail marlowe
Abigail Marlowe was raised in London, England. She moved to New York at 18 to study theater at Bard College under the tutelage of Joanne Akalaitis of NYC's famed Public Theater.
LA beckoned, where she quickly flourished in film and TV. Career highlights include working with Ben Kingsley in 'The Sopranos', with Denzel Washington in 'The Equalizer 2' and originating two characters for the multiple Emmy award winning Netflix show, 'Arcane'.
In addition to film and television she is a prolific commercial and voice over artist. A writer and producer herself, she is delighted to be part of the Frankfort48 Film Contest!
Jim Burnstein
Jim Burnstein, Professor and Director of the University of Michigan’s nationally acclaimed Screenwriting Program since 1995, managed to beat the odds and make it as a successful Hollywood screenwriter without moving from his home in Plymouth, Michigan.
Burnstein’s screen credits include Renaissance Man, the 1994 comedy directed by Penny Marshall and starring Danny DeVito; D3: The Mighty Ducks; and Love and Honor, starring Liam Hemsworth and Teresa Palmer, co-written with Garrett K. Schiff of Los Angeles.
Other Burnstein and Schiff credits include Ruffian starring Sam Shepard (ABC/ESPN); Naughty or Nice starring George Lopez (ABC); and Ham-let, a graphic novel published by Dark Horse Comics in 2022. Burnstein also served as the executive producer of the award-winning independent 2008 film, Ocean of Pearls, directed by Dr. Sarab Neelam. Among Burnstein’s current works are The School of Jeff, a television series with Big Bang Theory exclusive director Mark Cendrowski atttached to direct and produce; and The Rats, a screenplay currently being co-written with John U. Bacon, adapted from Bacon’s book, Let Them Lead.
Michael Mittelstaedt
Michael Mittelstaedt is a filmmaker and the founding director of Film and New Media at Interlochen Center for the Arts, an arts boarding school for ambitious young artists from around the world. His accomplished alumni produce, write, shoot and cut for Netflix, Amazon, Dreamworks, Hulu, Disney Studios, and Skywalker Sound. Previous to his work at Interlochen Center, Michael was producer/director of television and documentaries at Broadview Media, Chicago.
Deeply invested in the value of community, identity and collaboration as they relate to creative and personal development, Michael was selected to present at SXSWEDU in 2019 for innovative applications of these values he designed for his curriculum in teaching visual story and collaboration,
An advocate for regional filmmakers, Michael was appointed by the governor of Michigan to the Michigan Film Commission Advisory Council to help shape the direction of the future of film in the state.
In 2020, Michael launched the Cinema Collective, an influential network of alumni and teaching artists, whose mission is to cultivate and produce new works of cinema each year; principal photography of the Collective’s production begins this spring.
When he is not teaching, Michael works toward completion of his western, Chasing Daylight / chasingdaylightmovie.com
6th Annual Frankfort48 Winners
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 6th Annual Frankfort48 Film Contest. For those who couldn't join us for the public screening, here are the top three films picked by our judges.
first place: Watercolor
second place: Me time
third place: heart shaped movie
Frankfort48 by Jess Jacklin
Frankfort48 Sponsorship Opportunities
Consider becoming a sponsor of the Frankfort48 Film Contest and supporting aspiring filmmakers. Levels of sponsorship benefits are outlined below. For additional information or questions, contact KATIE JONES, Executive Director of The Garden Theater.
Marquee Level Sponsorship
Cost: $550
Marquee Sponsor Benefits:
Company Logo or Name prominently displayed on event poster
Company Logo or Name on pre-show big screen presentation
Six Garden Theater Gift Certificates good for future movie admission and popcorn
Garden Theater swag bag of goodies
Producer Level Sponsorship
Cost: $275
Producer Sponsor Benefits:
Company Logo or Name on event poster
Four Garden Theater Gift Certificates good for future movie admission and popcorn
Garden Theater Hoodie
Director Level Sponsorship
Cost: $125
Director Sponsor Benefits:
Name on event poster
Two Garden Theater Gift Certificates good for future movie admission and popcorn
